Many beginner poker players find themselves struggling to break even at the table, but there are often a few small adjustments they can make that will give them the edge needed to start winning consistently. Whether that edge is the result of a change in how they view the game (more cold, detached, and mathematical) or a small tweak to their strategy, it can be enough to take them from struggling beginner to high-roller.
One of the biggest mistakes beginners can make is to get too attached to their hand. This can lead them to over-think the situation, and arrive at the wrong conclusions. It can also make them more likely to play too many hands, especially in early position when the opponents’ ranges are a lot wider.
Instead of worrying about what your own hand is, focus on what everyone else has. This is especially important in the first hour of a session. You will need to understand your opponents’ relative hand strengths and how they interact with each other, and that requires a lot of attention to detail.
The best way to develop this skill is by watching other professional players at work. However, if this is not possible, there are some basic rules you should follow to avoid making any major mistakes at the tables.
Never try to force a hand, even when you have a very strong hand. It will almost always cost you money in the long run. In addition to the obvious risk of getting caught by a strong opponent, you will also be wasting valuable time and concentration that could be better spent elsewhere on your game.
Don’t be afraid to sit out a few hands if you have to. If you’re going to be late for a meeting or need to grab something to eat, then it makes more sense to just call the next hand than to miss it completely. However, make sure you don’t miss more than a few hands or it will become unfair to your opponents.
Be aggressive when it makes sense. While aggression is important to poker, you must balance it with your ability to make good calls. This means calling only when you expect your hand to be ahead of your opponent’s calling range, and bluffing only when you think the pot odds are in your favor.
When playing a draw, you should try to put your opponent on a range. This will allow you to estimate how likely they are to improve their hand, and then act accordingly. The easiest way to do this is by observing how they act in preflop, the size of their bets, and the amount of time they spend thinking about it. Then you can decide how much to raise or fold.
